History and Culture Come Alive in Constitution Hall

Last week, we were proud to welcome major outside programs from the History Channel and Univision, the largest Spanish-language channel in the United States, to our stunningly renovated DAR Constitution Hall. Starring an array of VIP presenters, these events emphasized the splendor of Constitution Hall and showcased culture through musical performances, inspiring stories, and enlightening conversations with changemakers. We were delighted to hear all the positive comments from performers and production staff about the beauty of the architecture and quality of the production at Constitution Hall. Please note: While these events are hosted in our building, they are not sponsored by DAR nor does DAR determine their content.

On September 22, Constitution Hall was brought to life through music and culture as the hosting venue for Univision Noticias’ first edition of UNIVISIONARIOS, an initiative celebrating Hispanic culture and leadership. A two-hour live broadcast watched by nearly 2.8 million viewers; the theme of the program was “Honrando lo Nuestro (Honoring What is Ours).” The show was hosted by Teresa Rodriguez, a trailblazing, Emmy-winning TV news anchor who was the first woman to host a national primetime Spanish-language newscast. Other guests were actor and comedian Adrian Uribe, and musical guests Chiquis, Adia Cuevas, Mau Y Ricky and more. As an acclaimed music venue, it is a joy to see Constitution Hall come to life in a celebration of traditional and contemporary Hispanic culture.

Though these individual’s status and influence is immense, I was reminded of all that we had in common through their conversations on Constitution Hall’s stage. Tom Hanks spoke of his commitment to championing Veterans, Serena Williams discussed the challenges of motherhood, Julia Roberts remarked on what it means to be human on social media, and Malala Yousafzai talked about her favorite shows to binge watch. We were proud to have our venue bring together such stories and perspectives in these fascinating conversations. While photos were prohibited during the event, it was an honor for First Vice President General Ginnie Storage and I to be invited by President George Bush into the President General’s Reception Room for a photo with the former President, First Lady and their daughter Jenna Bush Hagar.